K-P CM resurfaces in dramatic twist

PESHAWAR:

Members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly were left with mouths agape as the province's chief minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, made a sudden appearance in Sunday's emergency session after remaining missing for more than 24 hours.

After his seemingly miraculous reappearance, Gandapur revealed that he had been at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House the entire time, and authorities in Islamabad made attempt to arrest him on four occasions.

When he left, the CM claimed his "pockets were empty", and he traveled through 12 districts to reach Peshawar. He demanded accountability for the damage and attacks on the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House, which holds great significance for the people of the province.

He further demanded that the Islamabad IG come to the provincial assembly and apologise, threatening to file an FIR if the senior police official failed to do so.

During an emergency session of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Ali Amin Gandapur's sudden entrance surprised both assembly members and party workers. The CM embraced the assembly members and, in his speech, recounted how, after addressing the rally, he went to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House for tea.

During that time, the IG Islamabad and Rangers came to arrest him, launching teargas shells and firing inside the house. "They broke windows and doors, damaged my vehicle, and confiscated weapons from my guards," the CM claimed. "Even the speaker's room was not spared."

He clarified that he was not arrested and had stayed in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House from Saturday onwards. When he left, he had no money in his pocket and traveled through 12 districts to reach Peshawar, where he found out about the ongoing assembly session.

The CM expressed outrage, saying that he was insulted at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House and that the provincial government's dignity had been attacked.

He emphasised that while personal grudges can be overlooked, there is no forgiving dishonour to the province. He demanded that the Islamabad IG apologise in the assembly, or MPAs would file an FIR.

He also expressed his pride in PTI founder Imran Khan, saying he was still fighting for the nation.

Gandapur declared that despite numerous attempts to suppress PTI, the party remains strong, and they will continue to resist all efforts to undermine it.

In his speech, Gandapur criticised the government for stealing the election, kidnapping PTI members, and obstructing their campaign. He accused the opposition of manipulating votes and claimed that PTI received over four million of them.

He expressed frustration over being denied permission to hold rallies, stating that the party members were treated like animals. "Despite all the obstacles, PTI managed to reach D-Chowk and hold their protest, leaving the opposition confused over how they succeeded," the PTI leader boasted.

Gandapur criticised those who left the party during tough times, calling them traitors, and emphasised PTI's commitment to peaceful protests. He condemned the violence against their workers and vowed to continue fighting. The CM also addressed threats of dismissal and martial law, stating PTI would not back down and return stronger. He ended his speech by pledging never to allow disrespect to women during his government, and he reaffirmed PTI's resolve to win the battle imposed upon them.

The mystery surrounding Gandapur's absence had sparked widespread concern, prompting the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to pass an urgent resolution demanding his immediate release. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam tabled the resolution, which condemned the recent raid on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad and the violent incidents that ensued.

Gandapur, who had been last seen leading a convoy of PTI protestors into Islamabad on October 5, was reportedly near China Chowk when he disappeared.

CCTV footage from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House shows him entering the premises, but later leaving in different clothes, raising questions about whether his departure was voluntary.

PTI leaders, including former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding his release. "If the chief minister is not freed, we will launch nationwide protests," Qaiser warned.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi clarified the situation. "Ali Amin Gandapur is not in the custody of any federal agency. He has chosen to go into hiding of his own accord," he said, though this statement only added to the confusion.

Upon his return to the K-P Assembly, Gandapur delivered a fiery speech, accusing the federal government of undermining the will of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "A historic chapter has been written, and now they are trying to erase it," he declared, referring to the PTI's political achievements.

He also criticised the treatment of PTI members, stating, "Our party symbol has been taken from us, our members have been kidnapped, and we were not allowed to run an election campaign."

Gandapur highlighted the party's electoral success, questioning how the opposition secured votes: "PTI received over 4.5 million votes. Where did the opposition get their votes from?"

He denounced the raid on K-P House, calling it an attack on the province's autonomy. "The K-P House is our property, and they shelled and fired upon it. What gives them the right to treat it like this?" he asked.

Directly criticising the current administration, he questioned, "Why are they so afraid? We requested permission for a rally in Lahore, but they didn't even allow us to hold it at Minar-e-Pakistan. Are we animals? They want us to hold rallies in cattle markets."

He concluded with a defiant message: "They thought we wouldn't make it to D-Chowk, but we did. This is not just about me or PTI; it's about Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and its rightful place in the federation."

Despite his reappearance, the political tension continues to build, with PTI accusing the federal government of attempting to destabilise the province. As the stand-off continues, party leaders have threatened nationwide protests if further action is taken against their members or leadership.

Speaker summons CS, IG

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, utilising his constitutional powers, has summoned the chief secretary, the inspector general (IG), and the principal secretary to the CM to the assembly on Monday (today).

This action is in response to their failure to take action regarding the Chief Minister's disappearance and the operation by Islamabad police at K-P House. Additionally, the assembly passed a resolution condemning the CM's disappearance and the police action at K-P House in Islamabad.

The assembly session, which was called for 3 PM, finally began at 7.15 PM, presided over by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. During the session, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Minister of Law, Aftab Alam, presented the resolution. He stated that the CS and relevant provincial departments are responsible for not taking administrative action or communicating regarding the disappearance of the chief minister. He emphasised the need to restore the public and assembly's confidence, as the role of the leader of the house is paramount in constitutional framework.

The resolution aimed to address the issue of the CM's disappearance, which occurred at K-P House in Islamabad. The resolution criticised the lack of action from the federal government, its representatives, and the provincial administration, which has shown no significant progress in this matter. Furthermore, it condemned the federal interior minister, the K-P governor, and federal representatives for their negative and unconstitutional actions.